Often people are referred to a Clinical Neuropsychologist after expressing concerns about developing dementia (for example, concerning family history) to their GP, neurologist or psychiatrist, who may feel further evaluation is warranted.

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A private neuropsychological assessment is helpful in identifying in a detailed and specific manner early symptoms of dementia (which are typically cognitive in nature), but it may also put your mind at rest if no problems are found (as GP and other medical services generally offer only very brief assessments of limited value). Some people worried about dementia are often just experiencing age-related memory decline, which is normal (i.e. we all get more forgetful as we get older, but conversely other abilities such as general knowledge generally improve). There are also some reversible causes of memory problems that can be identified and addressed, such as stress or depression. Neuropsychological assessment also provides an accurate baseline of cognitive ability to allow for comparison if there are ongoing symptoms and further testing is required later.

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